Priority to studies. Midfielders Lesley Ugochokwu (18) and Désiré Doué (17) as well as defender Jeanuël Bélocian (17) will not make the trip to Larnaca, Cyprus, on Thursday with their partners from the Rennes team for the launch of the season in the Europa League. Absences with a word of apology but for a more than comical reason.
The three young players are indeed retained in Brittany…. to pass the baccalaureate tests scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, coach Bruno Genesio explained at a press conference.
When they should have passed these tests in May, Ugochukwu was held back by a match with the pro team while Doué and Bélocian were busy winning the Euro U17 in the Blue jersey.
“It’s very important to have a balance between studies/football/family. There was no question of making them miss the tests, ”said Genesio, while regretting a lack of flexibility for the last two, insofar as the first postponement was due to matches with the national team.
If Jeanuël Bélocian has only played a few minutes in March in a pro match, Ugochukwu regularly came into play last season and Doué started 10 days ago against Lens.
The three Breton hopefuls will not be the only players to miss the trip to Cyprus since Genesio will also have to do without experienced Arnaud Kalimuendo and Jérémy Doku, injured in recent weeks and still recovering, and rookie Amine Gouiri, expelled during his last match with Nice, which is suspended.
